Intense wildfires in southwestern France forced the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, with over 40,000 people displaced and more than 10,000 hectares burned. Spain declared a national emergency as fires near Madrid and Ávila forced over 10,000 evacuations. Both countries activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for firefighting assistance. Two French firefighters died earlier in the week. The fires are fueled by extreme heat and drought, which scientists link to climate change.

A World Weather Attribution study finds that human-caused climate change has intensified Europe's drought, with extreme heat rather than low rainfall driving moisture loss from soils, lakes, and rivers. The warmer atmosphere increases drought and wildfire risks, with dry soils five times more likely in western Europe and 11 times more likely in eastern Europe compared to a pre-industrial climate. The study highlights that even regions with little change in rainfall face rising drought risk due to increased evaporative demand. Using weather data and computer models to compare the current drought with a climate 1.4°C cooler, the study found that exceptionally high evaporative demand between April and June in western Europe was about 80 times more likely due to climate change.

Amine Kessaci, deputy mayor of Marseille and anti-drug activist, previously called for stronger state action against narcotrafficking. Now, he reveals he lives under constant police protection, stating he is the most protected person in France after the president due to death threats from drug traffickers. He describes the fight against drug traffickers as a 'war against democracy' and insists narcotrafficking will not prevail. The report also covers similar threats against other French mayors, such as Amandine Demore of Échirolles, whose car was firebombed, and the mayor of Alès, who was evacuated by the GIGN. All demand more resources to combat organized crime.

Daniel Siad, a 69-year-old modelling scout whose name appeared thousands of times in the Epstein files, was found dead at his home in Colombes, a Paris suburb. An investigation into his death has been opened. Siad had been the subject of complaints in France including allegations of rape, but had never been prosecuted. His death has sparked anger from victims' lawyers, who accuse the Paris prosecutor's office of inaction and say victims have been denied justice. The case echoes the 2022 death of another Epstein associate, Jean-Luc Brunel, in a Paris prison.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that several ministerial staff, senior civil servants, and agents have been removed after testing positive for drugs in mandatory, unannounced saliva tests ordered in mid-June. Lecornu cited both exemplarity and vulnerability concerns, noting that cabinet members have access to highly sensitive information. He framed the measure as part of a broader fight against narcotrafficking, which he called France's biggest domestic challenge. Lecornu revealed these details in a Paris Match interview.

Emmanuel Macron became the first Western head of state to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. During his July 6-7 visit to Damascus, he met with Islamist leaders at the Umayyad Mosque, sparking anger among Syrian Christians who feel ignored and vulnerable to Islamist pressures.

France's ONERA has announced the PROVIDENCE project to build a 2.5-meter telescope for space surveillance, capable of imaging objects in low Earth orbit with 10 cm resolution at 500 km. The telescope, to be operational at the Haute-Provence Observatory by 2029, will complement the existing GRAVES radar and support military space situational awareness. It is funded by the DGA and regional EU funds, and will be built by Belgian company AMOS.

A petition against a French law establishing presumption of lawful firearm use by police, which had gathered over 730,000 signatures, was dismissed by the National Assembly's law committee on July 21-22. The law, adopted July 7, presumes police acted within legal framework when using weapons. The committee voted 35-21 to shelve the petition, ruling it inadmissible for debate in the hemicycle. The petition had called for a vote against the law, but the law was already adopted and is now pending Senate review. Critics, including left-wing deputy Ugo Bernalicis, argued the petition represented a major citizen challenge on fundamental rights, while supporters, including deputy Eric Pauget, argued that a new debate would disrespect Parliament's vote.